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Beauty is the promise of happiness [makeup, skincare, fashion] ONLY COOL BOYS ALLOWED

Not was, is! I can't speak on their products at length, though, since all I've tried so far is their Facial Treatment Essence. It's the most basic and most highly recommended of their products, since it isn't skin type/condition specific. It's just their patented anti-aging ingredient in a super lightweight water-based "lotion."

A lot of customers call it their "holy water," and I don't know if I'd go that far, but I do feel like it has a rejuvenating and brightening effect on my skin. I initially used it twice a day, but I think it was bothering my skin a little so I cut back to once when I wash my face before bed and that seems to be the best use.

I'd really like to get one or two of their other products, especially one that's specifically used to brighten dark spots so I can tackle the shadows of past acne breakouts, but I'd rather not get anything else until I can actually go to an SK-II counter and get a consultation and there are none nearby...

If you are really anxious to grow it out quickly though, look into collagen supplements. Supposed to help in that regard, at least it can't hurt. If you want faster cheering up, why not get it colored? A drastic change may not be advisable, but maybe you can go a little darker or get some highlights/lowlights put in. And while hair can get chopped off, dye can't be taken out except with bleach, I am assuming your dad would be at a loss. You could also get a consultation at a salon to help teach you how to style it. Maybe pick up some shine serums.

They opened up an Ulta nearby and were holding really great sales. I bought a Nyx blush for $3(almost a little too pigmented!) and the 10 Shadow Smokey Eyes kit for $10. I am pretty shitty at smokey eyes it turns out. And while I like the look right now, I can't help but feel like we will look back on this eyeshadow trend with ridicule in a decade or so, "Haha, what were people thinking?". Sort of like I remember hearing when smokey eyes first became popular, lots of people thought it looked like silly raccoon makeup.

Anti you could probably shift the part to the side and it would look like a really nice asymmetrical short bob. Maybe even go a hair shorter in the back to make it curve toward your jawline... like parted over the outside edge of either your right or left iris or even further if you like it that way. I think with a little bit of styling perhaps you will find you don't hate it so much! And as somebody whose mom cut her hair into a poodle-curl mullet because "I'm sick of looking at your hair"... I know that feeling unfortunately.

i'm not always the best at practicing this, but here's a mantra for when something overwhelming occurs.

You can either own your pain, or let it own you.

i think you already know it, but having those little phrases can be helpful, i've found. so, give yourself a bit more time to regain some composure, then werk that shit. i think that first look would be suuuuuper good on you, and versatile.

Spoiler:

not to get all Oprah on you or act like a sage, but yeah. it's the same thing as smiling or laughing to make yourself feel better -- you may not feel happy when you start, but eventually, your actions will make it true.

so if your father's being a tough guy and trying to mold you into something you're not, do what you need to do in order to keep him from messing with you. but on your own time, when you go out or you go back to school, follow the example of innumerable high school girls -- sneak makeup and forbidden clothes, and look how you want. make time to be confident in who and what you are, or fake it until you feel it.

i know i get preachy sometimes, but it's because i care. i'd insert a goofy picture of myself to balance out all this sincerity, but you'll have to make do with a catpic.

as far as styling makeup or hair or clothing -- like Liiya said, we will help any way we can -- none of us knew this stuff until we learned! ...i still have a lot i could learn.
edit: to be more on-point, i think you could get the same effect as the first pic simply by changing your part. so, comb your hair so that it falls more on one side of your head instead of evenly in the middle. and instead of letting the hair near your forehead fall to the side, comb it towards your face, straight over your forehead.

Product ain't hard. Go to your local shops (Target, Walgreens etc), see which brands you can easily get a hold of and note them down. Then go to makeupalley.com and go to Product Reviews and read reviews for different hair styling products by those brands. Find out which ones are any good and that you can afford. You've heard of gel, mousse, hairspray etc etc etc. You don't need to own everything since so many products all basically do the same things, except in different ways formulated for different hair-types. You'd probably be good with some hairspray, shine/frizz serum, and maybe some sort of styling product like a mousse. You probably already own a flat-brush and hair-comb but round-barrel combs are really useful for styling and super cheap, like $3. Blowdryers may not be in your purview right now, but get yo'self some bobby pins or sponge-rollers. Women have been styling their hair without heat since forever, wet-sets might be a good, more inconspicuous option for you. Wet-sets are hair-styling patterns that you sleep in styled via pins and/or rollers on often wet hair. You wake up, take out the pins and comb out the hair-sets. Remember about the highlights and lowlights.

also: PART YOUR HAIR TO THE SIDE

Really though, here's the thing: style takes practice. It really, really does. I think I can do my makeup well, but only because I've watched lots of youtube videos and have sat in front of the mirror and practiced, one look after another, removing the makeup and trying another look. I have ended up with some pretty gnarly looking eye-makeup. My roomy saw me trying out my new palette, "Aren't you wasting product?", to which I responded, "What's the point of having it if I don't know how to use it?". If you mess up on something, well duh. It comes with the territory. You just gotta forge ahead and keep trying and eventually you end up damn fine.

If it was possible to graft the ends of hair together you could have mine. Mine is now about as long as yours was and I don't know what to do with it, it kind of overwhelms my face. I will probably cut it in a month or so, maybe donate it (I think it is currently an inch or so too short). The only reason I've let it grow so long even though I don't like how it looks on me is because I can hide behind my hair because braces and tics.

I think with your features as well you can definitely achieve a variation on these hairstyles

1. Right when you get out of the shower, towel off your hair and mist with texturizing spray.
2. Use a natural bristle brush while blow drying your hair, and curve your front layers in one direction.
3. Rub some pomade between your fingers to warm it up, and piece out your ends.
4. Arrange them messily over your forehead, and tuck the rest of your hair behind your ears.

1. Mist damp hair with volumizing spray and blow dry using a round brush to add volume.
2. Now comb hair over to one side. (This might not stay put at first, but keep styling it this way to get the shape to stick.)
3. Style your bangs over your forehead, and mist with a ton of hairspray like L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray keep them in place.
4. Tuck the rest of your hair behind your ears.